Atv having arrangement for a passenger

ABSTRACT

An ATV includes a vehicle frame, a straddle type seat mounted to the frame for a driver, and a passenger support assembly positioned rearward of the driver. The passenger support assembly is comprised of a seat frame assembly and a seat assembly. The seat assembly is removably mounted to the seat frame assembly, and the seat frame assembly is pivotally movable relative to the vehicle frame.

This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/012,587, filed Feb. 4, 2008, and is a divisional application ofapplication Ser. No. 12/246,948 filed on Oct. 7, 2008, the subjectmatter of which is incorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and moreparticularly, for seating arrangements for a passenger on an ATV.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to application Ser. No. 12/012,587 filedFeb. 4, 2008, the subject matter of which is incorporated herein byreference.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Generally, all terrain vehicles (“ATVs”) and utility vehicles (“UVs”)are used to carry one or two passengers and a small amount of cargo overa variety of terrains. Due to increasing recreational interest in ATVs,ATVs for multiple riders have become more popular in the market place.Most ATVs include an engine including between one and three cylinders.Most ATVs include a straddle or saddle type seat positioned above theengine. Seating systems for supporting people in a seated position onsuch vehicles, for example, on ATVs, are well-known. Most systemsgenerally involve a straddle type seat being secured to a framestructure.

Conventional straddle type seats on recreational and utility vehiclesgenerally hold a number of people, and most commonly, the seats functionin supporting one or two persons. In one example, a two-person seatingsystem is designed with an elongated bench portion of the straddle typeseat so as to support one person in front of the other. In anotherexample, discrete seats bottoms are provided for supporting one personin front of the other, with the passenger elevated in relation to thedriver.

It is desirable on ATVs to provide the most comfortable andergonomically pleasing ride for either one or two ATV riders.Embodiments of the invention can be used to generally overcome the aboveshortcomings as well as others.

According to an illustrative embodiment of the present disclosure, anall-terrain vehicle includes a frame, a straddle type seat mounted tothe frame for a driver, a passenger seat positioned rearward of thestraddle type seat and is movable in dampened movement in at least apartially vertical travel component.

In another embodiment, a vehicle comprises a frame, a straddle type seatmounted to the frame for a driver, and a passenger support assemblypositioned rearward of the straddle type seat, where the passengersupport assembly is comprised of a seat frame assembly and a seatassembly, wherein the seat frame assembly is pivotally movable relativeto the vehicle frame and the seat assembly is removably mounted to theseat frame assembly.

In another embodiment, a vehicle comprises a frame; a straddle type seatmounted to the frame for a driver; and a passenger support assemblypositioned rearward of the straddle type seat, where the passengersupport assembly is comprised of a seat bottom and a seat back, the seatback being adjustably movable to a plurality of positions for theergonomic comfort of the passenger.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of vehicle described;

FIG. 2 is a left side plan view of the vehicle of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a a rear perspective view in partial cutaway showing thepassenger seat attached to the vehicle frame;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to that of FIG. 3, showing the passenger seatassembly removed;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the pivot support link shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 shows an underside perspective view of the passenger seatassembly;

FIG. 7 is a shows a top perspective view of the seat frame;

FIG. 8 is a lower perspective view of the seat frame of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows a rear perspective view of the seat back and seatattachment assembly;

FIG. 10 shows a partially exploded view of the seat back and seatattachment assembly of FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 shows a rear perspective view of the assembly of FIG. 10;

FIGS. 12 and 13 show front and rear perspective views of the lower seatback frame;

FIGS. 14 and 15 show inner and outer perspective views of the upper seatback frame;

FIG. 16 shows an exploded view of an underside of a portion of thepassenger seat assembly, and in particular the latch assembly;

FIG. 17 shows the pivot link and passenger seat poised for receipt ontothe frame rearward of the driver seat;

FIG. 18 shows an underside perspective view of the passenger seatassembly poised for receipt over the mating pin on the pivot supportlink;

FIG. 19 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the shockabsorber, in perspective view;

FIG. 20 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken through the shockabsorber;

FIG. 21 shows a side plan view of the passenger seat assembly showingthe extreme positions of the passenger seat through the dampening; and

FIG. 22 shows the extreme positions of the seat back plate for thepassenger seat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or tolimit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the followingdetailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and describedso that others skilled in the art may utilize their teachings. Forexample, while the following description refers primarily to an allterrain vehicle, it should be understood that the invention may haveapplication to other types of vehicles, such as snowmobiles,motorcycles, watercraft, utility vehicles, scooters, golf carts, andmopeds.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, one illustrative embodiment of an allterrain vehicle (ATV) 10 is shown. ATV 10 includes a frame 12, a chassis14 mounted on the frame 12, where the frame 12 is supported by front andrear tires 16, 18, respectively. ATV 10 also includes a front end 20 anda rear end 22. Front end 20 and rear end 22 are separated by handlebarassembly 24, straddle-type seat 26, drive-train 28, and foot-wells 30.Foot-wells 30 are located on both lateral sides of ATV 10, and flank thestraddle-type seat 26, providing an area for the foot rest of the driverand passenger's feet.

Front end 20 also includes front accessory panel 32 which may include atool storage compartment. Handlebar assembly 24 is operably coupled tofront wheels 16 to allow a rider to steer ATV 10 when supported bystraddle-type seat 26. Rear end 22 also includes rear accessory panel 34which may also include a tool storage compartment. Front panel 32 andrear panel 34 may also include an accessory coupling system such as theone disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,454, the disclosure of which isexpressly incorporated herein by reference.

Positioned rearward of the straddle type seat 26 is a passenger supportassembly 36, which is comprised of a passenger seat assembly 38, and aseat frame assembly 40 (FIG. 3). As described herein, passenger seatassembly 38 is selectively removable from the ATV 10 by way of a releasemechanism 42. With the above generally described vehicle, the passengersupport assembly will be described more fully below.

With respect to FIGS. 3-4, seat frame assembly 40 is comprised of apivot support link 44 and a suspension coupling 46, both of which areattached to a rear portion 48 of vehicle frame 12. As best viewed inFIG. 4, rear frame portion 48 is comprised of main frame tubes 50 havingmounting brackets 52 positioned on opposing main frame tubes 50. Rearportion 48 is further comprised of a rear support platform 54 supportingmounting bracket 56, which supports suspension coupling 46 (FIG. 3), asdescribed herein.

With reference now to FIG. 5, pivot support link 44 is shown in greaterdetail. Pivot support link 44 is comprised of frame members 60 having agenerally horizontal portion 62 and upright portions 64. A mounting axle66 connects the frame members 60 at one end and includes a throughopening 68 for mounting purposes. Meanwhile, axle portions 70 aremounted to the free ends of upright frame portions 64 where the axleportions 70 are spaced apart for receipt of the suspension coupling 46as described herein. Each of the axle portions 70 includes an opening 72as also described further herein. Pivot support link 44 further includesa bracket 74 interconnecting the frame members 60 and has a pin latching76 attached thereto where the pin is comprised of a lead-in section 78and an undercut latching area 80. Finally, pivot support link 44includes a bracket 82 extending between the frame members 60 adjacent tothe axle portions 70 forming a stop surface, as described herein.

With reference now to FIG. 6, passenger seat assembly 38 is comprised ofa seat bottom 90 and a seat back 92 where the seat back 92 is attachedto the seat bottom 90 by way of a seat back support 94. The seat bottom90 is comprised of a seat bottom frame 96 together with the appropriateseat padding shown generally at 100. The seat back support 94 includes alower seat back frame 102 and an upper seat back frame 104. The releasemechanism 42 includes latch assembly 106 which is attached to seatbottom frame 96 by way of connection to lower seat back frame 102 asdescribed herein.

With respect now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the seat bottom frame 96 is shown ingreater detail. Seat bottom frame portion 96 includes a lower wall 110having a central wall portion 112 separated by way of alignment ribs114. Alignment ribs 114 are used for alignment with pivot support link44 as will be described herein. Central wall portion 112 furtherincludes openings at 116 and through holes 118. Locking hooks 120 areintegrally molded to the central wall portion 112 whereas a slot 122 ismolded through a wall portion 124 to access an inside of central wallportion 112 as best shown in FIG. 7. The seat bottom frame 96 furtherincludes a transition wall 128 leading onto a surface 130 havingapertures 132 and mounting apertures 134.

With respect now to FIGS. 9-13, seat back support 94 is shown with thelower seat back frame 102 and upper seat back frame 104 attached to aseat back platform 140 by way of a bracket 142. As shown in FIGS. 12 and13, lower seat back frame 102 includes a base portion 150 having innerapertures 152 and outer apertures 154. A mounting plate portion 156 ispositioned in a different plane as base portion 150 by way of atransition section 158. Mounting plate portion 156 includes mountingapertures 160. A transition wall 162 extends upwardly from base portion150 and includes an opening 164. Finally an upright portion 166 isprovided having an opening at 168.

Upper seat back frame 104 is shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 and includes anangled wall 170 for covering wall 162 and has marginal walls 172 foroverlapping wall 162. Upper seat back frame 104 further includes avertical wall portion 174 for covering wall portion 166 and includesmarginal wall portions 176 for overlapping wall portion 166. A lowercutout section is provided at 180 and an upper cutout section isprovided at 182 which are generally aligned with openings 164 and 168(FIGS. 12 and 13) as described further herein. An upper wall portion 190is provided having marginal wall portions 192 with mounting tab portions194 positioned adjacent to a top of marginal wall portions 192.Intersecting circular apertures 196 are provided in tab portions 194 andprovide closely spaced apertures as described herein. Finally, as shownin FIG. 15, angled wall 170 includes an aperture 198, as describedherein.

With respect again to FIGS. 10 and 11, mounting bracket 142 includesmounting ears 200 which are profiled for receipt within marginal wallportions 192 and for attachment by way of a fasteners 202, 204.Meanwhile, bracket 142 includes upper ears 208 which may be positionedinside of tabs 194 such that the aperture in ear 208 may be aligned withone of the circular openings of the openings 196 and can be locked intoone of multiple positions by way of fasteners 210, 212. Meanwhile seatback plate 140 may be attached to the bracket 142 by way of fasteners220, 222.

With reference now to FIG. 16, latch assembly 106 includes a lanyardassembly 248, receiver plate 290, latch spring 292, spring block 294 andback up plate 296. Receiver plate 290 includes a pin receiving aperture300, and spring 292 includes a spring portion 302 overlapping aperture300. Block 294 and back up plate 296 also include throughholes 312, 314,respectively, which align with aperture 300 as described herein. Withreference still to FIG. 16, lanyard assembly 248 includes a strap 320having a pull loop 322 (FIG. 6) at one end and a connection link 324 atthe opposite end. Link 324 is connected to release member 326 havingengagement members 328 as will be described herein. Link 324 and releasemember 326 are attached together by way of rivets 330.

With reference still to FIG. 16, block 294 includes bosses 388 profiledto receive fasteners 310 therethrough. Block 294 further also includesU-shaped channels 390, posts 392, and a central post 394 which formsopening 312, and where post 394 is formed with a cut-away portion 395.As also shown in FIG. 16, release member 326 includes trunnions 396 oneach side thereof, and are profiled for receipt within the U-shapedchannels 390. The engagement members 328 include gripping channels 397.Finally, spring 292 includes clip ends 398. Thus as shown, lanyardassembly 248, receiver plate 290, spring 292, block 294 and back upplate 296 stack together and may be fastened to base portion 150 by wayof fasteners 310 threadably engaging threaded apertures 152 (FIG. 12).

The spring latch assembly 106 is assembled as follows: strap 320 andlink 324 are first attached to release member 326 by way of rivets 330.Trunnions 396 are then positioned in U-shaped channels 390. Spring 292is positioned with spring portion 302 positioned in cutaway 395 and ingripping channels 397, and with clip ends 398 positioned within posts392. Receiver plate 290 and back-up plate 296 are then positioned overbosses 388, and fasteners 310 may be received therethrough and threadedinto the threaded openings 152 (FIG. 12), to retain the assembly inplace to the base portion 150. The seat back support 94 is completed bypositioning the upper seat back frame 104 to the lower seat back frame102 and attaching the seat back platform 140 to the upper seat backframe 104 by way of bracket 142 as described herein.

With reference still to FIG. 16, fasteners 310 are positioned throughreceiver plate 290 and with spring 292 positioned on the plate 290,fasteners can extend through the block 294, and back up plate 296, andare attached to base portion 150. It should be appreciated that releasemember 326 is moveably trapped between plate 290 and block 294. Itshould also be appreciated that strap 320 is laced through aperture 164and exits through aperture 168 to position loop 322 on the backside ofseat 38 as shown in FIG. 6.

The passenger seat assembly is completed by placing the mounting plate156 (FIG. 12) of the lower seat back frame 102 through the slot 122(FIGS. 7-9) so as to align apertures 160 and 118. As apertures 160 arethreaded, bolts 440 (FIG. 6) may be positioned through apertures 118 andinto threaded engagement with the mounting plate 156. As shown in FIG.6, this places the transition wall 162 (FIG. 12) adjacent to transitionwall 128 (FIG. 8) with upright portion 166 and upper wall portion 190extending upwardly from the seat bottom 90 as shown in FIG. 6. Withreference still to FIG. 6, a rubber bushing 450 is positioned inaperture 198 (FIG. 15), and rubber bushings 452 are positioned inapertures 116 (FIG. 7).

With reference now to FIG. 17, pivot support link 44 and suspensioncoupling 46 may now be attached to rear portion 48 of frame 12. Mountingaxle 66 is positioned between mounting brackets 52 and elongate fastenersuch as a bolt or a stud 460 is positioned between brackets 52 and intoand through mounting axle 66 whereby it may be attached with a fastenersuch as a nut 462. Suspension coupling 46 has an upper connection link464 which may be placed intermediate axle portions 70 and receive afastener such as a bolt or stud 466 therethrough and be retained by anut 468. Meanwhile, suspension coupling 46 includes a lower coupling 470which is now positioned in bracket 56 and attached thereto by way offasteners 472, 474. As such, pivot support link 44 is moveable relativeto rear portion 48 of frame 12 by way of dampened movement subject tothe dampening of the suspension coupling 46.

Thus as described and with reference now to FIGS. 18-20, seat assembly38 is attached to vehicle 10 by positioning seat frame 96 against thepivot support link 44, such that the mounting hooks 120 couple aroundthe axle 66 and such that the alignment ribs 114 flank the frame members60. The attached position is shown in FIGS. 19 and 20. This aligns thepin 76 with opening 300 (FIG. 18) in receiving plate 290, as shown inFIG. 20. It should be appreciated that when pin 76 is aligned withopening 300, spring portion 302 resiles into an undercut latching area80 of the pin latching 76 (FIG. [[16]] 5) to retain the passenger seatassembly 38 in position. When the seat needs to be removed, loop 322 ofstrap 320 is pulled which causes release plate 326 to rotate abouttrunnions 396 (FIG. 16). Gripping channels 397 grip spring portion 302and disengage spring 292 from undercut latching area 80, which allowsthe seat to pull straight off of pin 76, and then rotate out.

It should be noted that the movable portion of the latch assembly 106,that is release member 326 and spring 292, are movably attached to theseat. It should also be noted that lanyard strap 320 is pulled generallyvertically to release the latch assembly 106 from the pin 76. Therefore,the directional component of the force on the lanyard 320 assists in theremoval of the passenger seat assembly 38. As mentioned above, isolationmounts 450, 452 on the seat bracket support 94 are positioned againstbracket 82 and the horizontal portions 62 of the frame members 60 of thepivot support link 44, respectively, and provide for vibration dampeningbetween the seat bracket support 94 and the pivot support link 44.

At the same time, the entire pivot support link 44 is attached to theframe 12 of the vehicle 10 in a dampened manner by way of suspensioncoupling 46. Suspension coupling 46 is comprised of at least one elementacting along a linear path, such as a shock absorber, damper, air shock,shock and spring combination, or other linear force element (LFE). Thusany vibration or bumps encountered by the vehicle 10 will be dampened bythe suspension coupling 46, rather than being transferred to thepassenger seat assembly 38. FIG. 21 displays the extreme positionsavailable given the stroke of the suspension coupling 46. As also shownin FIG. 21, the upward projection of frame portions 64 provides morevertical clearance for the suspension coupling 46, thus allowing maximumvertical stroke.

As also shown in FIG. 22, the seat back platform 140 is movable by wayof the fasteners 202, 210 between the position shown. Thus the entireseat back 92 may be moved between these positions to accommodate thebest ergonomic fit for the passenger. While not shown, some accessmeans, such as a zipper or other opening could be positioned in thepadding or covering of the seat back 92, and adjacent to the fasteners202, 210, for access and adjustment of the seat back platform 140.

1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame; a straddle type seat mountedto the frame for a driver; a passenger support assembly positionedrearward of the driver, where the passenger support assembly iscomprised of a seat frame assembly and a seat assembly, wherein the seatassembly is removably mounted to the seat frame assembly and, the seatframe assembly is pivotally movable relative to the vehicle frame. 2.The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the seat frame assembly is movable indampened movement in at least a partially vertical travel component. 3.The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the passenger support assembly isdampened by way of at least one linear force element (LFE).
 4. Thevehicle of claim 3, wherein the LFE is a shock absorber.
 5. The vehicleof claim 2, wherein the seat frame assembly is pivotably mounted to theframe.
 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the seat frame assembly ispivotably mounted at a pivot position adjacent to the straddle typeseat.
 7. The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the seat frame assembly iscomprised of at least one frame member extending under the passengerseat assembly, and the end opposite the pivot position is suspendedabove the frame by way of at least one linear force element (LFE). 8.The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the at least one frame member anglesupwardly and rearwardly behind the passenger seat assembly.
 9. Thevehicle of claim 8, wherein the passenger seat assembly is removablymounted to the seat frame assembly.
 10. A vehicle comprising: a vehicleframe; a straddle type seat mounted to the frame for a driver; apassenger support assembly positioned rearward of the driver, where thepassenger support assembly is comprised of a seat bottom and a seatback, the seat back being adjustably movable to a plurality of positionsfor the ergonomic comfort of the passenger.
 11. The vehicle of claim 10,wherein the seat back is comprised of a seat back bracket and a seatback mount, the seat back mount being attachable to the seat backbracket in a plurality of positions.